Step 3: How to build the light-tube: Third step

Step 4: The electronic in the heart beat box

Now let´s take a look inside the Heart-Beat-Box: In former times the box made of alumine protected a pair of glasses and now it hides the heart of...

Hello everybody

I never expected such an enormous interest of my work. But I must say I like it. This success is an big motivation to me and so I want to show you anohter funny steampunk object. where I used one of my own instructables;-)))

As a mad steampunk scientist I took such a steampunk-light- tube enlighted it with two blue LED and placed it in an funky glasses-case. In the top I put an switch and a small electronic in, which slowly glows and dim the light like an heartbeat. As a real steampunker I named it : "Heart of godess Elektra". In the following steps I´ll show you how I dit it.

You can get a small impression of this fantastic light below. It really looks like an pulsating heartbeat!!

Step 1: How to build the light-tube: First step

As you already might have seen in my other instructable "construction of a steampunk light tube", I use such a tube in this instructable too. Let´s remember the steps, that´s why I show them here again;
First you can see the tube in the heart beat box and then the tube with the holder for its own. Then you can take a glance of the backside of the heart beat box with the brass screws and then you see the details of making the light tube.

Step 2: How to build the light-tube: Second step

Here the details for the light tube itself can be seen again.

Step 3: How to build the light-tube: Third step

The steampunked tube made of brass sockets, copper rings, some screws, washers, spark plugs made of brass and an acrylic tube.

Nice work, I'm definitely going to have a play with this idea, a couple of use's come to mind -

- with the right pulse (beat) length it's a handy meditation aid

- with a dial control circuit added in to vary the "beat" you've got yourself a handy visual steampunk metronome for muso's - add in a sound circuit in time with the beat, hey presto full compact audio/visual metronome for musician's ( steampunk ones of course ).

If I'd been smart enough to come up with this idea in the first place I probably would have used a concealed micro switch rather than the toggle switch to operate it. Just to give it a bit of that "fridge light" feeling that kids alway's get trying to find out if the lights still working when the door is closed. Also might give it more of a mystic feel.

Good stuff, I'm off to find a suitable case right now, might even try to adapt one of my harmonica cases!

I am doing some stained glass for a steampunk computer monitor, while I was laying out the glass work I put some anti-freeze and gelatine in the glass tube, so I don't have to worry about leaks and seals, these are the pics.

The glow is more even in real life the camera makes an unnatural bright spot.

Did you fill the tube? There was a project I think in the Phillipines or other tropical nation using plastic water bottles that they filled with liquid and put in the ceiling as sky lighting during the day time. I thought that was a great idea but in my climate the water would freeze so antifreeze and gelatin might be a good substitute.

I would be concerned for the longevity of the finished product especially in a enviroment where air would be a factor, in these tubes there is little air infiltration and most likely will have no biological grown, however it's not hard to imagine mold or some other nasty finding this gelled sugar soulution a fun place to grow.

hey im very interested in something like this but do not have alot of free time so i was wondering how much would it cost to have one built and just purchase it already made and sent in the mail if that is an option and if possible ill pay more to have a switch tht changes the speed of the pulse let me know thanks

ok, i will probably use it as my first instructable. i am going to design a circuit that will create the heart beat. it will help add on to your's and help people who dont have access to a prebuilt circuit. :)

Wonderful project! Love the glow effect! Do you know what brand of glasses case it is? Also, have you considered cutting holes in the external casing for the glow to shine through? I think it would add to the mystery of it.

Hi I do´n´t know the brand becaus Igot it from a flea market and the only information was imprinted :"Made in China" ;-) I Tried to find it out for more other objects because I like this form very much but Ihad no luck yet, sorry but If someone here around could help that wold be great.

To your second question: You´ve nearly tghe same idea like me,great!!!

Yes my first Idea was indeed to cut an oval hole in tit you can see the oval at the top, and then let another LED glow with the same rythm. This hole should have filled with something like an "glass jewelry" or so to lift up the mystery effect. But the first trials with an model haven´t been convincing. So I build it in this way.

Aeon Junophor

About This Instructable

Bio:I love to invent and create new things in a "steampunk styled way" working with brass, copper, vulcanized-fibre, brass gears and (ply)- wood. On one side I am fascinated in neon lights and small elec...read more »